Sprocket-chain.



G. M. PIERSON. SPROGKET CHAIN.

APPLIOLTIOR nun MAY 25, 1908.

91 1,266. Y Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

WITNESSES "[NVENTOR GILMAN M. riEnsoN, or GRAFTON, NEBRASKA.

' srnoc E'r-cHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Feb. 2, 1909.

Application filed May 25, 1908. Serial No. 434,801.

T 0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GILMAN M. PIERSQN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Grafton, in the county ofFillmore and State of Nebraska, have invented-certain new and usefulImprovements in Sprocket-Chains,of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in sprocket chains, and has forits object to pro vide a chain, which while adapted to bend in themanner of the ordinary sprocket chain, can be flexed or bent laterallyso that when it is necessary to cause the chain to follow an irregularcourse, the canting of the procket wheel and the consequent tilting orturning of the chain will be avoided.

Other objects and advantages otmy invention will appear in thecourse ofthe following specification. V I V In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1is a top plan view of a portion of my improved sprocket chain; Fig. 2 isa side view of the same; Fig. 3 is aside view ofone of the knuckles orcouplers; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 5 is a plan V ewof one of the flat cross links; Fig. 6 is a side view of the same; Fig.7 is a side view of one of the fiat bars; and Fig. 8 is a top plan view.

of a modified form of link, with a portion thereof broken away. 7

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, ofthe drawing, which illustratethe preferred form of my invention, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,which show a portion of my sprocket chain composed of several linksdesignated by the numeral 1, connected together in a manner to beexplained hereinafter, these links consist oi fiat side bars 2perforatedat each end (see Fig. .7) and which are designed to be pivoted at eachend to U-shaped knuckles or couplers 3 by means of rivets 1 adapted topass-through said perforations and be confined within the closed end ofthe knuckle, which ends are reduced, as shown.

All of the links 1 of my sprocket chain are constructed in the mannerjust described, and are designed to-be connected together by means offlat bars 5, perforated at each end and provided with cut-out portions,as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. These flat bars 5 are adapted to becrossed, one over the other, with their cut-out portions interfitting,and

. their ends pivotally held by rivets 6 between the open ends of theopposite U-shaped knucklesor couplers 3. As will be apparent, the objectof arranging these bars 5 in the manner just described is to provide fortheir slidingeireely upon one another, when the 'chain is turnedlaterally.

Referring now to Fig. 8, which illustrates a modified form of U-shapedknuckle or coupler-7, and which has its closed end reduced and cut awayto 'form closed loops 8, 8. The flat bars '2, previously described, areadapted to be pivotally connected to the knuckles 7 by means or therivets 41; passing through the perforations in the flat bars 2 andthrough the openings in the closed loops 8, 8, in which the rlvets areconfined. Antliriction rollers 9, provided with longitudinal passagestherethrough are adapted to be held between the loops 8,8 by one of therivets t passing throughsaid passages. The links in this modificationare designed to be connected together by means of the bars 5 in thesamemanner as previously described, and will form a roller or anti-frictionsprocket chain.

Having described my lnvention, what I 7 claim is,

1. A. sprocket chain, comprising a number otlinks, and bars crossed andpivoted between said links to permit of a lateral movement of saidchain, substantially as described.

2. A sprocket chain, comprising a. number of links, and bars, providedwith cut-out portions, pivotally connecting said links, said bars beingcrossed to permit of a lateral movement of said chain, substantially asdescribed.

3. A sprocket chain comprising links em- Ibodying knuckle portions, andside bars pivotally connecting said knuckle portions, and diagonalmembers connectlng sald llnks to permlt of lateral movement thereof,substantially as described.

7 In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of twowltnesses.

GILMAN M. PIERSON.

' Witnesses URIAI-I F. STANARD, W. G. Pronsou.

